PROCRASTINATION: AN ACADEMIC HAZARD* PART 1

 *PROCRASTINATION: AN ACADEMIC HAZARD* PART 1

Procrastination, also termed Postponement is a habit which is observed in a lot of people and affecting a vast area of one's life. As far as Researchers believe, it is one of the inherent tendencies of the human. Procrastination is with us in many cases and is expressed in a variety of conditions influenced by the culture. Among the types of Procrastination, Academic procrastination is the most common one. This type of Procrastination has been defined as tendency prevailed to postpone the academic activities and is almost always associated with anxiety. An obvious example is to delay studying the lessons until the night of the exam and resulting hurry affects the student. Academic procrastination is a relatively common phenomenon among adults and students in the universities.

*THE NATURE OF PROCRASTINATION*

The term "Procrastination" is made of two parts "Pro" meaning forward, ahead and in support of and "Crastinus" meaning tomorrow and up to tomorrow . This term derived from the Latin word "Procrastinare" meaning "swallowing", "delaying", "pulling", "pausing", "stop moving", or “postponing a task” . This term has been mentioned as a bad habit and behavioral problem which is experienced by many adults in their daily works. Especially it is experienced in the tasks which should be usually done.

Procrastination is defined as a behavioral feature, or defect which is specified as delaying a task or decision. Procrastination is considered as a behavioral tendency in delaying what is necessary for achieving the goal. In other words, it is postponing a work which we have decided to perform it.

However, Procrastination does not occur without inflicting causes, but these causes are not clear cut.Despite  different definitions and ideas regarding procrastination, reasons of procrastination among students are still unknown, and even sometimes contradictory findings have been achieved in this relation. 

Thus, various experts have enumerated various reasons for it including fear of success; fear of failure; self-destructive behaviors (conscious or unconscious behaviors that lead to  individual’s failure/self-harm); avoidance of duties that the person has no desire to do, lack of incentive to do work (Extra rewards);  work difficulty; unpredictable events; negative attitudes toward regulatory system and organizational structure; lack of knowledge and skills needed to do the work; the impracticability and lack of mobility;  bad physical condition; as well as cases such as Perfectionism, low level of tolerance, inability to deal with problems and low self-consciousness.

To further classify these causes:

Individual, Environmental, and Organizational factors 

*Organizational Factor:* structure, monitoring system, performance evaluation system, management procedure, culture.

*Environmental factor:* family pressure, economic pressure, social culture, unprecedented event

*Individual factor:* personality characteristics, age, gender, service records, education, fear of failure and success perfectionism.

To Be Continued

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